Bailer and sand pump



July 18, 1961 Filed Oct. 15-, 1958 FIG. I

P. R. YATES 2,992,682

BAILER AND SAND PUMP 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. IA

PAUL RYATES INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY July 18, 1961 P. R. YATES BAILER AND SAND PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1958 FIG. 2A

PAUL R. YATES INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY July 18, 1961 -P,. R. YATES 2,992,682

BAILER AND SAND PUMP Filed 001;. 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PAUL R.YATES INVENT'OR.

I I J I I A ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,992,682 BAILER AND SAND PUMP Paul R. Yates, Shawnee, Okla, assignor of. twenty-five percent to Claude M. Harris, twenty-five percent to Raymond C. Manees; both of Oklahoma City, Okla twenty-five percent to John D. Storm and twenty-five percent to George D. Gibson, both of Shawnee, Okla.

FiledOct; 13, 1958, Ser. No. 767,034 2 Claims; (Cl. 166105) The present invention relates to the oil industry and more particularly to a sand pump and bailer.

Sand-pumps and bailers are by no means new but none of them, asshown by the prior art as far as I know, uti lize hydrostatic, hydraulic and vacuum action.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a. combination bailer and sand pump which utihydrostatic and hydraulic pressure followed by a reduction of pressure or vacuum action for loading the device under well pressure at thehottom of a well bore and conserving such pressure for discharging such load atthe surface of the earth.

Another ohject is to provide a device of this class which inay be=connected to a wire line after the tool'has been assembled. 1

Another object is to-provide abailer of this class having a reciprocable plunger means for affecting a pumping actionadjacent the bottom of a well bore.

Another object is to provide a device of this character.

having, avalve flap for opening and closing its lower end, and an annular valve seat for sealing with means carried by the upper end of the plunger means, thus providing a fluid entrapping chamber filled with atmospheric pres sure as the device is-lowered into a well bore.

A further object is to provide a device for securing. a sample of the fluid and sand or other loose formation fromthe bottom of awell bore, which-sample is sealed within a fluid tight chamber contained by the device against mixture with other matter or fluids while being removed from the well.

Yet another object is to provide a tool ofthis class which may be used for removing bridges, cement plugs, or the like.

Another'object is to prov-idea device of this class having=tubular reciprocating plunger means connected to a wire line formoving fluids into and out of the device under pressure.

Other objects will beapparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying three sheets ofdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the upper end portion of "the device;

FIGURE 1A is a fragmentary side elevational view of the lower end portion'of the device;

FIGURES 2 and 2A are vertical cross-sectional views taken through FIGS; 1 and 1A, respectively;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are horizontal cross-section views taken substantially along lines 3-3 and 4-4, respecv y;

FIGURES is aside elevational view of a star bit;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom viewof the bit seen in FIG. and,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a dumping block tool.

Likecharacters of reference designate like parts in those of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings: h

The "reference numeral 10 indicates the device, as a whole, comprisinganelongated tubular body or barrel 12,

a head in, a sleeve member 1 6 and a shoe 18- adapted to be lowered in'toa well here, not shown, by a wire line 20. The head 14 is formed with: a bore 22, diametrically substantially smaller than the bore of the barrel 12, but of sufficient size to freely receive theconventional wire line 20, or the like therethrough. The head is secured to the top of the barrel 12 as by welding. A rope socket 24 is loosely received within the barrel 12. The rope socket 24 is centrally bored through and counter bored at least twice to provide an enlarged here at its end opposite the rope receiving end and forms a. pair of annular shoulders 26 perpendicular to the axis of its bore. The rope 20 is connected to the rope socket 24 by spreading and doubling back the individual strands of the rope and securing the same by molten metal 28 which is conventional. A relief hole 30 formed in the wall of thesocket 24 prevents overfilling, the socket with metal. An aperture or window 32 is formed in the wall or the barrel 12 adjacent its connectionwith the head 14. The window 32 is preferably of such size that the rope socket 24 may be removed from or inserted into the barrel 12 therethrough. Thus it may be seen that the head 14 and barrel 12 need not be separable for connecting or disconnecting a wire line 20- as is. conventional for this type of tool thus: eliminating the possibility of the head and barrel separating. at this point whenin operation within a Well bore. h h

Vertically reciprocable plunger means 34 is placed within the barrel 12. The plunger means 34 includesa tubu lar section or mandrel 36 which. is threadedly connected at its upper end to the bore of a valve cage 38. The valve cage 38 has an inclined surface defining a reduced upper end portion which is co-operatingly receivedwithin the bore of the downwardly directed counter bored end of the rope socket 24. The wall of the .lower end portion of the rope socket is provided with conventional J- slots, spaced which co-operatingly engage with pins 42 secured to the reducedupper end portion of the valve cage to support the plunger means 34. A screw 44 car- 'ried by the reduced upper end portion of the valve cage between opposing vertical walls of one J-slot prevents unauthorized separation ofthe two members.

A ring 46 having a downwardly 'ctacing annular valve seat is secured to the bor'e of the barrel 12, as by welding adjacent the lower of the window 32 for sealing withthe inclined surface on the valve cage 38 and closing the bore of the barrel for the purposes which will presently be apparent. The valve cage 38 is provided with a plurality of fluid passageways or apertures 48 permitrting communication between the bores of the mandrel and barrel. The upper end of the mandrel tubular section 36 is provided with a valve seat for sealing with a valve ball 50 upon upward movement of the mandrel.

A plurality oi pistons or ring members 52 are secured 'to the mandrel :36 by pins 54. The bore of each of the pistons 5 2 is sealed with the periphery of the mandrel 36 and the periphery of each piston is closely received by the wall fomnn'g the bore of the barrel 12. Packing or piston rings, indicated at 56, seals the piston fluid tight with the inner Wall of the barrel. Each of the pistons 52 has a valve seat '58 formed in its upper surface and a plurality of vertical bores or apertures 60 through each piston provide fluid communication between opposing ends of 'the piston for the reasons which will readily be apparent. A tubular member 62 having a lower surface adapted to seal with the valve seat 58 is loosely received by the periphery of the mandrel 36 and isreciprocable between an upper position in contact with an upper piston or the valve cage 38, respectively, and a lower position seated on the valve seat '58, which closes the bores 60, by the resistance offered by fluid in the bore of the barrel during reciprocation of the plunger 34, as is more fully described hereinbelow,

lowermost end of the barrel 12. The sleeve 16 has a reduced upper end portion 64 which is closely received by and extends upwardly into the bore of the barrel. A valve flap 66 is pivotally connected to the wall of the sleeve member, at one side thereof, and is movable between a horizontal position, shown by solid lines in FIG. 2A, Where it seats on an annular shoulder 68 and closes the lower end of the barrel and an upper or open posirtion by the action of the reciprocating plunger means 34 in forcing fluids against the valve flap or reducing the pressure within the bore of the barrel above the valve flap. The inclined wall portion 69 below the shoulder 68 and pivoting connection of the valve flap 66 prevents damage to the valve flap at its connection with the sleeve by rocks, sand or the like under pressure. The wall of the reduced end portion 64 of the sleeve is provided with a port 70 above the valve flap seat 68 which may be moved into and out of register with a co-operating port 72 formed in the wall of the barrel in a manner more fully described hereinbelow. A fluid chamber 73 is thus formed between the ring 46 and the valve flap 66.

The tubular shoe 18 is threadedly connected to the depending end of the sleeve member 16 and is secured by a set screw 74. The shoe is transversely bored, as at 76,- for the purposes which will presently be apparent.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrates a star bit 80 which replaces the shoe 18 for drilling through cement plugs, bridges and the like by a reciprocating action of the entire device by means of the wire line prior to the bailing or sand pumping action.

Operation In operation, the device, assembled as disclosed hereinabove, is lowered into a well bore, not shown, by the wire line 20. During this lowering operation the in clined surface on the valve cage 38 is seated on the seat formed on the ring 46 and the valve flap 66 is closed thus sealing the fluid chamber 73. After the device has been lowered into fluid which may be present adjacent the bottom of the well bore and the shoe 18 contacts the formation at the bottom of the well the valve cage 38 separates from its seal with the annular ring 46 permitting fluids under pressure present in the well bore to raise the valve flap 66and enter the chamber 73. If insufficient pressure is present to raise the valve flap 66 and completely fill the chamber 73, the plunger '34 is lowered toward the shoe 18 permitting any fluid in the lower end of the barrel to flow upwardly through the bore of the mandrel 36, through the valve cage 38 and through the bores 60 in the pistons. Upward movement of the plunger lifts the valve flap 66 and seats the valve ball 50 and tubular members 62 and reduces the pressure within the fluid chamber 73 and draws a load of fluid containing sand in suspension or other matter into the chamber. This action may be repeated as desired for loading the tool and pumping sand off of the Well bottom. Thus it may be seen that if suflicient pressure is present at the well bottom the same will fill the fluid chamber and as the tool is lifted the inclined surface on the valve cage 38 seals ofl. the upper end of the chamber and traps such pressure therein. After reaching the surface of the earth a pin, not shown, is inserted into the transverse bores 76 in the shoe. The bailer is lowered, by the wire line 20,

to position the bore of the shoe over a pair of inclined uprights 84 carried by a dump block 86 (FIG. 7) mounted on the rig floor, not shown, so that the aforementioned pin is nested by co-operating aligned slots 82 formed on the uprights. A wrench, not shown, is applied to the barrel 12 while the dump block holds the shoe stationary for turning the barrel 90 relative to the shoe, in an unscrewing action for mating the sleeve port 70 with the barrel port 72. Bottom hole pressure trapped within the fluid'chamber 73 then forces the material out of the chamber.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bailer and sand pump, including: an elongated tubular barrel having a rope-receiving head connected to its upper end portion and having a rope-socket-receiving window formed in its wall adjacent the head, said head having a central bore diametrically reduced with respect to the bore of the barrel which latter is substantially uniform; a rope extended through the bore in said head; a rope-socket connected with said rope within said barrel, said rope-socket having a depending counter bored end portion and having a plurality of J-slots formed in the wall of the counter bored end portion, said window having a width and length at least as great as the diameter and length, respectively, of said rope-socket, whereby said rope-socket may be removably connected with said rope exteriorly of said pump without disassembling the latter; an elongated tubular mandrel of reduced diameter, reciprocable within said barrel, said mandrel having an annular valve seat formed on its upper end; a valve cage connected with the upper end portion of said mandrel, said valve cage having an annular inclined surface and having a reduced upper end portion closely received by the counter bored end of said rope-socket; pins secured to the reduced upper end portion of said valve cage and engaged by the J-slots in said rope-socket; a screw threadedly connected with the reduced upper end portion of said valve cage between opposing walls forming one said J-slot; an annular ring secured to the inner wall of said barrel below the lower limit of said window, said ring having a valve seat for sealingwith the inclined surface on said valve cage; a valve ball within said valve cage adapted for sealing with said valve seat on said mandrel upon the upstroke of the latter; a plurality of pistons carried in spacedapart relation by said mandrel, said pistons each having a valve seat formed on its upper surface, the wall of each said piston having a series of apertures extending vertically downward from said valve seat; a tubular member slidably carried loosely by said mandrel above each said piston, said tubular members each having a lower surface engageable with the valve seat on each respective said piston for opening and closing the apertures in the latter during its reciprocating action; a sleeve member threadedly secured to the lowermost end of said barrel, said sleeve member having an upper reduced end portion closely received by the bore of said barrel, the reduced end portion of said sleeve having a port through its wall, said barrel having a port in its wall for mating and mismating with the port in the reduced end portion of said sleeve, said sleeve member having an annular upwardly facing shoulder on its inner wall forming a valve seat below the port; and a valve flap pivotally connected to the wall of said sleeve at one side thereof and movable into and out of sealing position on said annular shoulder to open and close the lower end of said barrel in response to the reciprocating action of said mandrel.

2. A bailer and sand pump, including: an elongated tubular barrel having an upper and a lower end; a ropereceiving head rigidly connected co-axially to the upper end of said barrel, said rope-receiving head having a central bore co-axial with and diametrically smaller than the bore of said barrel; a rope extended through said ropereceiving head; a rope-socket connected with said rope within the upper end portion of said barrel, said ropesocket having a depending tubular end, said barrel having a window through its side wall adjacent the ropereceiving head, the dimensions of said window being at least as great as the overall dimensions of said rope-socket, whereby said rope-socket may be removably connected with said rope exteriorly of said barrel without disassembling the latter; an elongated centrally bored mandrel of reduced diameter co-axially disposed within said barrel, said mandrel having a valve seat formed on its upper end; a valve cage secured to the upper end of said mandrel, said valve cage having an upwardly inclined surface defining a reduced upper end portion adapted to be removably connected with the tubular end of said rope-socket for reciprocation therewith within said barrel; a ring secured to the inner wall of said barrel, said ring having a downwardly facing seat co-operating with the inclined surface on said valve cage and closing the bore of the barrel below the window when the device is supported by said rope; a valve ball within said valve cage adapted for seating on said valve seat on said mandrel and closing the upper end of the bore of said mandrel upon the upstroke of the latter; a plurality of pistons carried in spaced-apart relation by said mandrel in contiguous contact with the wall forming the bore of said barrel, said pistons each having a downwardly and inwardly inclined valve seat formed on its upper surface, the wall of each said piston having a series of circumferentially spaced-apart apertures extending verically downward from said valve seat; a tubular member slidably carried loosely by said mandrel above each said piston, each said tubular member having a downwardly and inwardly tapering surface cooperating with the respective valve seat on said pistons for opening and closing the apertures in the latter during its reciproeating action, each said tubular member being diametrically smaller than the bore of said barrel; a. sleeve threadedly secured to the lowermost end of said body, said sleeve having an upwardly projecting reduced end portion closely received by the bore of said barrel, the reduced end portion of said sleeve having a port through. its wall, said barrel having a port in its wall for mating and mismating with the port in the reduced end portion of said sleeve, said sleeve having a reduced bore intermediate its ends forming a horizontal valve seat; and a valve flap pivotally connected to the wall of said sleeve at one side thereof above the horizontal valve seat and movable into and out of sealing position on the latter to open and close the lower end of said barrel in response to the reciprocating action of said mandrel and pistons.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,535,083 Arbon Apr. 28, 1925 1,620,985 Standlee Mar. 15, 1927 1,843,217 Fletcher Feb. 2, :1932 1,911,503 Hazard May 30, 1933 2,054,606 Smith Sept. 15, 1936 2,170,568 Miller Aug. 22, 1939 2,180,935 Dumble Nov. 21, 1939 2,785,756 Reynolds Mar. 19,1957 

